The unemployment rate was at its lowest level since October 2000, and only the third time it has been at six per cent since April 1990.

The participation rate - the percentage of people over 15 working or looking for work - slipped to 63.4 per cent in October, suggesting more people were giving up the search for work. ");document.write("

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In fact, the number of people registered as looking for work fell 18,500 to 598,600, also the lowest level since October 2000.

NSW had the country's lowest unemployment rate (5.6 per cent from 6.0 per cent in September), followed by Victoria (5.9 per cent from 5.8 per cent), Western Australia (6.0 per cent from 6.2 per cent), South Australia (6.3 per cent from 6.4 per cent), Queensland (steady at 7.0 per cent) and Tasmania (8.2 per cent from 9.0 per cent).